Snowboarding “It’s a Culture”
11/14/2008 By Gerlind Dubey

“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body,but rather . . . by skidding broadside, scarred, battered thoroughly used up.Totally worn out, wasted and loudly proclaiming . . .“Now THAT was one hell of a ride!"

When snowboarders first emerged on the slopes in the 1980s, skiers across the country were very unhappy, requesting to have boarders barred from all ski areas. Snowboarders were seen as mainly rebellious teenagers looking for an outlet, disrespecting the flow and etiquette of many a disgruntled skier. Snowboarders also had a bad rap for being overly aggressive and eccentric with their baggy clothes and foolhardy attitudes. Skiers complained that snowboarders compromise safety in favor of showboating tricks. Fast-forward to today; snowboarding is a multimillion-dollar industry and the fastest growing sport in America. In 1985 only 7 percent of U.S. ski areas allowed snowboards; today more than 97 percent have opened the slopes to the sport. The big news for snowboarders is that Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico has recently announced that they are lifting their ban on snowboarding. Opening to snowboarding allows Ski Resorts, oops… excuse me I believe that the new term is SnowSports resorts to focus on being a family oriented mountains.

For those who are still hoping that boarding is just a passing phase;” don’t hold your breath! From the beginning snowboarding was destined to become not just a sport but a culture. It’s called evolution, I relate it to the birth of the “Rock and Roll Era” being a pre- teen in the fifties, I remember when Elvis Presley was banned from the hips down on national TV, and elders kept yelling that that was not music, it was the evil work of the devil –Well, color them wrong, for it is documented in history books as the “Rock and Roll revolution,” and this, too, created a whole new culture.

Fashioned in the “sitzmarks” of those who skied before them Snowboard culture now has a powerful base with more and more adults latching on for the ride.

Holiday Valley has captured this culture and run with it thanks to their creative marketing team including Pat Morgan whose title is Youth Connection Specialists. Pat hails from Machias NY; the close proximity to Ellicottville gave Morgan the opportunity to learn snowboarding at Holiday Valley. Barely more than a youth himself this 27 year old man has created an exceptional snowboard/ski program to entice young visitors to Holiday Valley. Though young, he is not wet behind the ears, after earning his degree in Sports Management Pat traveled the country putting on events for a major snowboard company, and has worked and boarded with some of the top names in the sport. Morgan created The THANKSJIBBING rail Jam at the Valley happening Friday November 28, and is coordinator of the Ellicottville Rail Contest happening Saturday, Nov 29, in the Parking lot behind Balloons Restaurant!